WAIHI COURTS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3250, 9 April 1943, Page 5

WAIHI COURTS

MONTHLY SITTING HELD

LIQUOR SOLD TO NATIVE

LICENSEE AND BUYER FINED

The monthly sitting of the Waihi Magistrate's Court was . held on Wednesday, Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., presiding. ' Charged with .having sold liquor to a native, Herbert Eli Strawbridge, licensee of the Talisman Hotel, Katikati, for whom Mr H. L. Boughton appeared, pleaded guilty, as also did the native concerned, Poihipi Ngatai, of Matakana Island, who was charged with having aided and abetted the offence, and who was also represented by Mr Boughton. Sergeant. H. F. Coddington saiu that Ngatai had engaged a taxi and driven into the backyard of the hotel, whence a case of beer was placed bydefendant in the car. The liquor was found in the vehicle by Constable A. C. O’Neill, who happened along at the time. Nothing was previously known against Ngatai. Counsel said this was the licensee s first offence of supplying liquor to a native, of whom there were many in the Katikati district. The facts were that Ngatai had asked to be supplied, but had been told there was nothing doing. He then took the case from a passageway without authority, and came back and paid for it. The licensee was very busy at the time and foolishly took the” money and let the matter rest at that.

“This particular class of offence is looked upon as serious,” remarked the magistrate, who imposed a fine of £5 and costs in each case. Motorists Offend

Negligent driving was admitted by Egerton J. Burns,, taxi-drivei (Ml Boughton). . > Sergeant Coddington said defendant was driving in Featon Road and had .failed to give way to a private car approaching on the right with the result that a head-on collision had occurred. The driver of the private car had received slight injuries, and had had to receive attention at the Waihi hospital. Defendant was fined £5 and costs.

“It is a danegrous road, and the greatest care should be exercised,’ said Mi’ Freeman in ordering Sergeant Philip Henry Chandler/ soldier, to pay costs £2 17§ 9d in the case in which Chandler was charged with having failed to keep to the left on the Katikati road. Defendant had pleaded not guilty. An Army vehicle driven by him had come into collision with a private car at a bad bend. •

For having no driver’s license, William Edward James Nelson, sharemilker, of Waimata, was fined 10s and costs.